DETROIT — Beginning this October, Michiganders from all walks of life may be affected by the federal health reform law. What health insurance covers, where people can buy it and whether people qualify for government financial assistance are questions many Michiganders will be asking.

To help people in Michigan understand the new law and its impact on them, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan has launched an interactive website, HealthCareReformBasics.com.

"Health care is undergoing its biggest change since Medicare was created nearly 50 years ago. People have lots of questions. We wanted to provide a place where people, on their own time, can explore health reform’s impact, based on their own circumstances and coverage situation," said Andrew Hetzel, vice president for corporate communications at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan wants Michigan residents to stay informed about how this transformation will affect their care. The Blues are focusing on the basics through HealthCareReformBasics.com. The site addresses many basic questions Michigan residents all have, from what is health care reform, to discussing potential impacts for consumers. HealthCareReformBasics.com addresses these questions and further breaks them down by allowing consumers to navigate through the website choosing a path specifically designed for them.

"The purpose of this website is to educate, and we hope to give people a more personalized experience in finding information that is relevant to their own circumstances," Hetzel said. "Health reform will affect different people in different ways. The best way to prepare is to explore – based on your family size, income and coverage situation – how it may affect you."

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, a nonprofit organization, provides and administers health benefits to more than 4.4 million members residing in Michigan in addition to members of Michigan-headquartered groups who reside outside the state. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Blue Care Network are nonprofit corporations and independent licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. For more company information, visit http://www.bcbsm.com.